Adjusting device for a stator for an optical disk drive motor

ABSTRACT

An optical disk drive motor includes a stator and a main board. At least one adjusting member is provided between the stator and the main board. The adjusting member is adjustable to adjust a pressing force exerted on one of the stator and the main board, thereby keeping the stator and the main board in a parallel relationship.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an adjusting device for a stator for anoptical disk drive motor.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates a conventional optical disk drivemotor including a disk tray 10, a shaft 20, a rotor 30, and a stator 40.A holding means 11 is mounted on the disk tray 10 for holding an opticaldisk. The shaft 20 is connected to the disk tray 10 and the rotor 30.The stator 40 is fixed to an axle tube 41 and controlled by a main board(e.g., a circuit board 42) to create alternating magnetic fields forproviding induction with a ring magnet 31 on the rotor 30, therebyturning the disk tray 10 and the optical disk.

Generally, the disk tray 10 would incline relative to the rotor 30 whenthe disk tray 10 is mounted onto the shaft 20. Namely, the disk tray 10is apt to be located in a position not parallel to the rotor 30. Toprevent unbalanced rotation of the optical disk drive motor and todecrease the bad product rate resulting from deviation of the disk tray10, the disk tray 10 is subject to a grinding process to reduce thethickness of the disk tray 10 from “a” to “b”, thereby keeping thesurface of the disk tray 10 in a parallel relationship with the rotor30. Though the grinding procedure could compensate the deviation of thedisk tray 10, it could not compensate inclination of the stator 40 orthe axle tube 41 relative to the circuit board 42. The inclination ofthe axle tube 41 may cause deviation of the shaft 20, disk tray 10, orrotor 30. Further, the balance state of the disk tray 10 must berepeatedly tested during the grinding procedure. As a result, thegrinding procedure is considerably time-consuming. Further, the strengthof the disk tray 10 and the rotational stability of the disk tray 10could be destroyed by excessive grinding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an adjustingdevice for a stator for an optical disk drive motor for providing aparallel relationship between the main board and the stator.

An optical disk drive motor in accordance with the present inventioncomprises a stator and a main board. At least one adjusting member isprovided between the stator and the main board. The adjusting member isadjustable to adjust a pressing force exerted on one of the stator andthe main board, thereby keeping the stator and the main board in aparallel relationship.

In a first embodiment of the invention, an optical disk drive motorincludes a stator and a main board. The stator includes a plurality ofscrew holes spaced at regular angular intervals. A plurality ofadjusting screws are provided and each has a first end engaged in anassociated one of the screw holes of the stator and a second endpressing against the main board. Each adjusting screw is adjustable toadjust a pressing force exerted on the main board, thereby keeping thestator and the main board in a parallel relationship.

In a second embodiment of the invention, an optical disk drive motorincludes a stator and a main board. The main board includes a pluralityof screw holes spaced at regular angular intervals. A plurality ofadjusting screws are provided and each has a first end engaged in anassociated one of the screw holes of the main board and a second endpressing against the stator. Each adjusting screw is adjustable toadjust a pressing force exerted on the stator, thereby keeping thestator and the main board in a parallel relationship.

In a third embodiment of the invention, an optical disk drive motorincludes a main board, an axle tube securely mounted on the main board,and a stator securely mounted around the axle tube. The axle tubeincludes a flange on an outer periphery thereof. The flange is spacedfrom the main board and includes a plurality of screw holes spaced atregular angular intervals. A plurality of adjusting screws are providedand each has a first end engaged in an associated one of the screw holesof the flange and a second end pressing against the main board. Eachadjusting screw is adjustable to adjust a pressing force exerted on themain board, thereby keeping the stator and the main board in a parallelrelationship.

In a fourth embodiment of the invention, an optical disk drive motorincludes a main board, an axle tube securely mounted on the main board,and a stator securely mounted around the axle tube. The axle tubeincludes a flange on an outer periphery thereof, the flange being spacedfrom the main board. The main board includes a plurality of screw holesspaced at regular angular intervals. A plurality of adjusting screws areprovided and each has a first end engaged in an associated one of thescrew holes of the main board and a second end pressing against theflange. Each adjusting screw is adjustable to adjust a pressing forceexerted on the flange, thereby keeping the stator and the main board ina parallel relationship.

Other objects, specific advantages, and novel features of the inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed description andpreferable embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional optical disk drive motor.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating compensationof deviation of a disk tray.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view, partly cutaway, of a firstembodiment of an optical disk drive motor in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a stator and a main board of the opticaldisk drive motor in FIG. 3, illustrating adjustment of the position ofthe stator by an adjusting screw.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the optical disk drive motor in FIG. 3after adjustment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the optical diskdrive motor in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view, partly cutaway, of a thirdembodiment of the optical disk drive motor in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the optical disk drive motor in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the optical diskdrive motor in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention will nowbe described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 3 through 5, a first embodiment of an optical diskdrive motor in accordance with the present invention generally includesa main board 42 (e.g., a circuit board) having an axle tube 41 mountedthereon, a stator 40 mounted around the axle tube 41, and a rotor 30mounted around the stator 40. The rotor 30 includes a shaft 20 rotatablyheld in the axle tube 41. Further, the rotor 30 includes a ring magnet31 attached thereto for induction with the stator 40. A disk tray 10 ismounted above the rotor 30 and includes a hole (not labeled) throughwhich the shaft 20 of the rotor 30 extends. A holding means 11 ismounted on an upper side of the disk tray 10 and securely engaged withan upper end of the shaft 20 of the rotor 30. An optical disk (notshown) placed on the disk tray 10 is held in place by the holding means11. Thus, the optical disk and the holding means 11 are turned jointlyby the shaft 20 of the rotor 30. An anti-slide ring 12 may be mounted ontop of the disk tray 10 to prevent undesired sliding motion of theoptical disk.

Of more importance, the optical disk drive motor includes at least oneadjusting member for adjusting the position of the stator 40 relative tothe main board 42. In this embodiment, the stator 40 includes aplurality of screw holes 401 spaced at regular angular intervals andextending in a direction transverse to a general plane on which thestator 40 lies. An adjusting screw 43 is extended through each screwhole 401. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the adjusting screws 43 extend intoa space 44 between the stator 40 and the main board 42. In use, therespective adjusting screw 43 is turned to adjust the pressing forceexerted by a distal end of the respective adjusting screw 43 against themain board 42, best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Thus, the relative positionbetween the stator 40 and the main board 42 is adjusted by means ofturning the adjusting screws 43 until the stator 40 and the main board42 are parallel to each other. The deviation of the stator 40 relativeto the main board 42 can be easily compensated by means of turning oneor more adjusting screws 43. After adjustment, the adjusting screws 43can be fixed by means of welding, fusion, gluing, etc, depending on thematerial (e.g., metal, alloy, plastic) of the adjusting screws 43.Loosening of the adjusting screws 43 and re-deviation of the stator 40are avoided. The screw holes 401 may be defined in a central portion 402of the stator 40, as shown in FIGS. 3 through 5. Alternatively, thescrew holes 401 may be defined in the poles 403 of the stator 40 withoutadversely affecting their function.

FIG. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention, wherein thescrew holes (now designated by 421) are defined in the main board 42instead of the stator 40. Each adjusting screw (now designated by 43′)is extended through an associated screw hole 421 with a distal end ofeach adjusting screw 43′ pressing against an underside of the stator 40.In use, the respective adjusting screw 43′ is turned to adjust thepressing force exerted by a distal end of the respective adjusting screw43′ against the stator 40, best shown in FIG. 6. Thus, the relativeposition between the stator 40 and the main board 42 is adjusted bymeans of turning the adjusting screws 43′ until the stator 40 and themain board 42 are parallel to each other. The deviation of the stator 40relative to the main board 42 can be easily compensated by means ofturning one or more adjusting screws 43′. A plurality of bosses 422 areformed on an upper side or an underside of the main board 42. Each boss422 is located below or above an associated screw hole 421 and has ahole (not labeled) aligned with the associated screw hole 421 to therebystrengthen the structure of the main board 42. The screw hole 421 of themain board 42 can be selected to allow the adjusting screws 43′ to pressagainst a central portion 402 of the stator 40 or the poles 403 of thestator 40.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a third embodiment of the invention. In thisembodiment, the axle tube 41 mounted on the main board 42 includes aflange 412 on an outer periphery thereof, the flange 412 being spacedfrom the main board 42. A plurality of screw holes 411 are defined inthe flange 412 and spaced at regular angular intervals. An adjustingscrew 43″ is extended through each screw hole 401. As illustrated inFIG. 8, in use, the respective adjusting screw 43″ is turned to adjustthe pressing force exerted by a distal end of the respective adjustingscrew 43″ against the main board 42. Thus, the relative position betweenthe stator 40 and the main board 42 is adjusted by means of turning theadjusting screws 43″ until the stator 40 and the main board 42 areparallel to each other. The deviation of the stator 40 relative to themain board 42 can be easily compensated by means of turning one or moreadjusting screws 43″.

The stator 40 may include a plurality of through-holes 404 each of whichis aligned with an associated screw hole 411 of the flange 412. Thus, atool (not shown) may be inserted through the respective through-hole 404to turn the respective adjusting screw 43″. Although not specificallyshown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a plurality of bosses may be formed on an upperside or an underside of the flange 412. Each boss is located below orabove an associated screw hole 411 and has a hole (not labeled) alignedwith the associated screw hole 411 to thereby strengthen the structureof the flange 412. Preferably, the flange 412 is integrally formed withthe axle tube 41.

FIG. 9 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention that is modifiedfrom the third embodiment, the screw holes (now designated by 423) aredefined in the main board 42 instead of the flange 412 of the axle tube41. Each adjusting screw 43″ is extended through an associated screwhole 423 with a distal end of each adjusting screw 43″ pressing againstan underside of the flange 412. In use, the respective adjusting screw43″ is turned to adjust the pressing force exerted by a distal end ofthe respective adjusting screw 43″ against the flange 412, best shown inFIG. 9. Thus, the relative position between the stator 40 and the mainboard 42 is adjusted by means of turning the adjusting screws 43′ untilthe stator 40 and the main board 42 are parallel to each other. Thedeviation of the stator 40 relative to the main board 42 can be easilycompensated by means of turning one or more adjusting screws 43″. Aplurality of bosses 424 are formed on an upper side or an underside ofthe main board 42. Each boss 424 is located below or above an associatedscrew hole 423 and has a hole (not labeled) aligned with the associatedscrew hole 423 to thereby strengthen the structure of the main board 42.Preferably, the flange 412 is integrally formed with the axle tube 41.

It is appreciated that the adjusting screws 43, 43″, 43″ and the screwholes 401, 411, 421, 423 can be replaced with other adjusting meanswithout departing from the scope of the invention. Examples of theadjusting means include columns of different lengths, several elasticelements of different elastic coefficients, etc.

Compare FIG. 1 with FIG. 3, by means of providing the adjusting members(adjusting screws 43, 43′, 43″) and the screw holes 401, 411, 421, 423to adjust the pressing forces provided by the adjusting members, thestator 40 and the main board 42 can be parallel each other to compensatethe deviation of the stator 40 relative to the main board 42. The damageof the disk tray 10 resulting from excessive grinding and thetime-consuming processing of the disk tray 10 in the prior art areavoided. The prior art grinding procedure of the disk tray 10 also failsto provide compensation in the deviation of the stator 40 relative tothe main board 42. Conclusively, the stator 40 and the main board 42 ofthe optical disk drive motor in accordance with the present inventionare adjusted to be in parallel relationship with each other undernon-destructive means. The adjusting procedure is simple and easy andcan be accomplished in a relatively short time.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiments as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many otherpossible modifications and variations can be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that theappended claims will cover such modifications and variations that fallwithin the true scope of the invention.

1-7. (canceled)
 8. An optical disk drive motor comprising: a stator anda main board, the stator includes at least one screw hole; at least oneadjusting member comprising an adjusting screw being provided betweensaid stator and said main board for engaging an end of said at least oneadjusting screw with said main board; said at least one screw hole ofsaid main board adapted to receive said adjusting member and providedwith at least one boss formed on one end opening of said at least onescrew hole so that said boss is able to guide said adjusting member suchthat said stator and said main board are parallel to each other duringadjustment, and said at least one adjusting member is adjusted inexerting a pressing force between said stator and said main board,thereby maintaining said stator and said main board in a parallelrelationship with each other.
 9. The optical disk drive motor as claimedin claim 8, wherein the main board further includes at least one bossformed on one of an upper side and an underside thereof, said at leastone boss having a hole aligned with said at least one screw hole. 10.The optical disk drive motor as claimed in claim 8, wherein said atleast one adjusting member presses against a central portion of thestator.
 11. The optical disk drive motor as claimed in claim 8, whereinsaid at least one adjusting member presses against at least one of aplurality of poles of the stator. 12-14. (canceled)
 15. The optical diskdrive motor as claimed in claim 8, wherein the stator is securelymounted on an axle tube that is spaced from the main board, the axletube including a flange on an outer periphery thereof, the main boardincluding at least one screw hole for receiving an end of said at leastone adjusting member, with the other end of said at least one adjustingmember pressing against the flange.
 16. The optical disk drive motor asclaimed in claim 15, wherein the main board further includes at leastone boss formed on one of an upper side and an underside thereof, saidat least one boss having a hole aligned with said at least one screwhole. 17-18. (canceled)
 19. An optical disk drive motor comprising: astator and a main board, the main board including a plurality of screwholes and a plurality of bosses thereof spaced at regular angularintervals, a plurality of adjusting screws each having a first endengaged in an associated one of the screw holes of the main board and asecond end pressing against the stator, said bosses are able to guidesaid adjusting members so that said stator and said main board areparallel to each other during adjustment, and each said adjusting screwbeing adjustable to adjust a pressing force exerted on the stator,thereby maintaining the stator and the main board in a parallelrelationship with each other. 20-21. (canceled)
 22. An optical diskdrive motor comprising: a main board, an axle tube securely mounted tothe main board, and a stator securely mounted on the axle tube, the axletube including a flange on an outer periphery thereof, the flange beingspaced from the main board, the main board including a plurality ofscrew holes and a plurality of bosses thereof spaced at regular angularintervals, a plurality of adjusting screws each having a first endengaged in an associated one of the screw holes of the main board and asecond end pressing against the flange, said bosses are able to guidesaid adjusting members so that said stator and said main board areparallel to each other during adjustment, and each said adjusting screwbeing adjustable to adjust a pressing force exerted on the flange,thereby maintaining the stator and the main board in a parallelrelationship with each other.